The GM Hy-Wire is the second step in Reinventing the Automobile, a journey that has catapulted the GM AUTOnomy vehicle vision towards commercial reality. Featuring a fully functional skateboard architecture and interchangeable vehicle bodies, the GM Hy-Wire translates the idea of the electrifying the automobile into a reality. This is more than a concept: it’s a fully functional and drivable vehicle with a docakable skateboard that houses all the propulsion, energy storage, and control systems. The Hy-Wire demonstrates that the Reinvention of the Automobile is feasible and real.

THE GM HY-WIRE SEDAN AND SKATEBOARD

The GM Hy-Wire demonstrates and showcases the world’s first plug-and-play (i.e., easily interchangeable) vehicle bodies. The bodies are docked to an innovative and electrified skateboard that incorporates both the propulsion system and a electrical power source with enough onboard electricity to operate the vehicle for nearly 100 miles. (When the vehicle is stationary, the power source can also provide enough electricity to run several homes or businesses.)

The interior is very spacious and offers the driver the choice of sitting and driving on the right- or left-hand side of the vehicle, depending on which country the driver is in at the time (for example, driving in the U.K. vs. in the U.S.). The interior steering wheel is the first GM vehicle steering system to feature a vehicle on/off switch consisting of a single button . By eliminating traditional vehicle mechanics needed to operate and drive a vehicle, the Hy-Wire offers an alternative way to steer without having to lift one’s hands off the steering wheel. Also, braking can be performed by squeezing the steering wheel, and accelerating is achieved by twisting the grip on the steering wheel.

As there is no engine up front nor in the rear, for the first time, the driver and passengers can see out through the transparent glass front grill and the back transparent glass “trunk.” The lack of foot pedals instead offers positional footrests that can be moved forward or backward to suit the driver’s comfort needs. Also, since the steering device does not move forward or backwards, the driver’s seat is designed with larger travel to accommodate the needs of 99% of the population.

Some interior features include hidden arm rests that fold up from the door and illuminated lighting positioned in the door trim, roof, floor, wheel arches, and logos. A rear-view camera housed in the steering wheel allows the driver to see what’s behind the vehicle, and there are two rear-view displays at the footwells on each side of the car (corresponding to the right hand and left hand mirrors) that convey what’s in the driver’s blind spots. The spacious, refined cabin seats five adults comfortably and offers drivers and passengers luxurious interior design and top-of-the-line interior environment conditioning.

STARTING WITH THE AUTONOMY COUPE AND NOW THE HY-WIRE SEDAN

The revolutionary GM Hy-Wire integrates technology and design, form and function, vision and action, and it was unveiled just eight short months after the GM AUTOnomy was first showcased. Teams worked around the clock and across the globe to complete the Hy-Wire’s rigorous design, build, and validation schedule. Rick Wagoner, CEO and Chairman of General Motors, had stated that a working model would be shown later in the year, and it was indeed delivered on time. This vehicle is the world’s first fully-functional and drivable vehicle that’s powered with fuel cells and operated with drive-by-wire technology. The AUTOnomy and the Hy-Wire have shown the world that the concepts behind these groundbreaking vehicles have become a reality.

HY-WIRE SKATEBOARD: An eleven-inch-thick skateboard chassis houses the entire propulsion system. A single electric drive motor up front propels the front tires, the drive-by-wire steering system accelerates and brakes with the aid of 20-inch tires in front and 22-inch tires in the rear, and the fuel cell propulsion system running on hydrogen provides the electric power that can propel the electric drive motor to a top speed of 100 mph. Total vehicle weight is 4,200 lbs. The hydrogen-powered fuel cell is capable of providing 100kw of continuous power; based on the compressed tanks of hydrogen packaged in the middle of the skateboard, it has a range of 100 miles.

DRIVE-BY-WIRE: The drive-by-wire system enables steering, braking and other vehicle systems like acceleration that are optimized with software for ease of use (all vehicle systems are controlled electronically rather than mechanically). The driver brakes, accelerates, and steers with either the right or left hand—there are no pedals to operate. Acceleration is achieved by gently twisting the handgrip, braking is done by squeezing the handgrip, and steering consists of gliding the hand up or down the handgrip, a motion similar to the circular motion of a traditional steering wheel.

HY-WIRE BODY: A five-seat touring sedan features cameras that capture external side-view mirror data. That data is then displayed on LCD monitors mounted within the interior. A rear-view camera captures rear-view images that are displayed on a display mounted within the drive-by-wire steering wheel. A translatable driver console features braking, steering and accelerating controls—all at the user’s fingertips—and can be driven from either a right-hand or left-hand position. Additional features include power armrests that fold up and down, adjustable driver and passenger footrests, a rear glass trunk panel with headlamps that power up and out at a touch of a button, a refueling port on the body side, a single “Power: On” button, a body port to plug in the docking connections to the skateboard, LED head lamps and tail lamps, and electroluminescent exterior logos, headliners, doors, trim, and floor illumination.

HY-WIRE OPENNESS IN DESIGN: The front and rear body panels are made of transparent glass, which means that the driver can see through the front of the car through the traditional hood location and through the back of the car through the “trunk.” Seats are made of see-through mesh, affording the driver even greater visibility.

HY-WIRE VEHICLE BODY HOIST: A spider-like device called the Spider Body Hoist attaches to the body. After removing the body to skateboard mounting bolts, the hoist lifts the body off the skateboard with an integrated top-mounted hoist. Once the body is removed, it can be wheeled off, exposing all the internal organs of the skateboard and its vehicle’s systems. They can then be easily serviced, upgraded, or repaired.

GM HY-WIRE UNVEILING: The General Motors Hy-Wire was unveiled at the International Auto Show Paris in 2002 and subsequently shown at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January 2003. The first “Ride and Drive” event for the media and assorted dignitaries began touring the globe after the Paris Autoshow in late 2002.

Belgian Association of Professional Auto Journalists - “Car of the Future” (The honor is awarded to the vehicle considered the most innovative, the most spectacular, the most original or the most practicable.)

Engine Technology International - “International Engine of the Year Award”

Introduction by Rick Wagoner, President and CEO of General Motors (source GM.com)

We asked our global technology and design teams the following question: If we were to re-invent the automobile today, using everything we know about current and developing technologies, what would it look like?

Their response was Autonomy. Many of you were here for its debut in January 2002. Autonomy was the marriage of fuel cell propulsion and by-wire controls... in a package that challenged the industry's most conventional assumptions about vehicle design, safety and performance.

After Autonomy, we delivered on our promise to introduce the driveable Hy-wire vehicle - powered by a GM hydrogen fuel cell - at the Paris Auto Show later that same year. Hy-wire was the next step in proving out the fuel cell concept. ...